Surgical appliance



Oct. 25, 1932.

M. VAN RAALTE SURGICAL APPLIANCE Filed April 25. 1950 IAN/EN TOR Mar/70Van Faa/fif AZTTQFNE Patented Oct. 25, 1932 res . UNITED I MARTIN VANRAALTE, OF LOUIS, MISSOURI SURGICAL APPLIANCE Application filed April23,

This invention relates generally to surgical appliances and moreparticularly to inflatable padding for use with splints.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide an inflatablepadding for use in conjunction with splints whereby pressure can beapplied to the fractured bone to hol the fragment in proper position. e

Other objects of the invention are to provide means whereby the fluidpressure in said inflatable padding can be regulated as desired withoutdisturbing the splint.

Still other objects of the invention are to provide a rubber bag adaptedto be used as inflatable padding in conjunction with the splint andhaving a tubular extension adapted to extend exteriorly of such splintwhereby the air pressure in said bag can be regulated to suit theconditions of the case, the

outer end of said tubular extension being fitted with a suitable valveor adapted to be clamped so as to close said opening and seal said bag.

Vi ith these and other objects in View, my

invention consists in certain novel features of construction andarrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a detailcross section through a bandage showing the application of theinflatable padding.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of one form of my inflatable padding.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail cross section taken on line 33 of Figure2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail cross sect-ion taken on line 1-4 ofFigure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail view showing another mode of closing the tubularextension.

Heretofore in obtaining immobilization of the injured part, the generalpractice has been to use ordinary padding in conjunction with the splintor plaster cast. This requires close bandaging in order to obtain thenecessary pressure to hold the fractured bone in proper position. Nhereconsiderable swelling takes place, this bandage has to be readjusted orthe plaster cast out in order to relieve the pressure. On the otherhand, where the in- 1930. Serial No. 446,426.

jured part is bandaged while in swollen condition, the fractured part isnot firmly held in place when the swelling is reduced. Thus frequentreadjustment of the splint or the plaster cast is required.

It is the purpose of the present invention to provide an inflatablepadding by means. of which pressure can be applied to the frag. ment tohold it in proper place and by means of which said pressure can beincreased or reduced as desired.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, 10 indicates asplint,and 11 the inner bandage by means of which the injured member is heldimmobilized. The inflatable padding 14 is arranged between bandage 11and splint 10.

This inflatable member in the present instance is in the form of arubber bag havingv a tubular extension 15 by means of which fluid underpressure, preferably air, can be admitted into said bag This extension15 is of suflicient length to extend eXterio-rly of the bandageso thatthe fluid can be admitted into or released from said bag withoutdisturbing the splint. To close this tubular extension and seal saidbag, a suitable check valve 16,such as shown in Figure 4. can be used orthe end of said tube can be clamped or tied as shown in Figure 5. Wherethe bag is of rectangular shape, as in the present instance, saidtubular extensionis preferably located near one corner thereof as shownin Figure2.

When air under pressure is admitted into the bag the side walls thereofare caused to expand. As the outer wall 15 of the bag is held immovableby splint 10, thepressure is directed against the inner wall 15 andthrough it inwardlyv against the fractured part. The pressure thusapplied causes the fragment to be brought into proper position.

The degree of inflation of member l Land the degree of pressure appliedto the fragment can be varied as required through the medium ofextension 15 which terminatesex teriorly of the splint and providesready communication with said inflatable member at all times. Thus thepressure against the fragment can be increased or reduced as desiredwithout disturbing the splint.

The fracture can be observed by means of fluoroscope and the position ofthe fragment noted to see whether or not it is properly located.

Inflatable member 14 can be made in various sizes for use on differentparts of the body. While a bag of rectangular form is herein shown, itcan be made of any other shape desired. The tubular extension 15 can belocated at any point on member 14; thus, for instance, in some cases itmay be advis able to have said extension leading from the centralportion of wall 15 instead of the corner of said member 14.

While I have shown in the present instance one member 14, two or moremembers 14 may be used in some cases when it is desired to apply counterpressure.

The term splint as herein used refers to any appliance used to hold, orprotect an injured part, such as plaster cast or other immobilizationmember.

As the inflatable member 14 is intended to take the place of padding nowused, no changes are required in the construction or arrangement ofsplints.

My inflatable padding is inexpensive and can be readily applied andpermits the regulation of pressure without disturbing the splint.

While I have shown and described herein the preferred form of myinflatable padding, it is obvious that various changes and modificationsin the embodiment of the invention can be made without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

I claim: a

1. In an immobilization bandage for bone fractures, the combination ofan inflatable pad placed against one side only of the fractured member,an immobile dressing completely enclosing said pad, and means forinflating said pad whereby pressure is applied against the displacedfractured part.

2. In an immobilization bandage for bone fractures, the combination ofan inflatable pad placed to one side only of the fractured memberadjacent to the displaced fractured bone, an immobile dressingcompletely enclosing said pad, and means communicating with' said padand projecting outwardly through said immobile dressing for inflatingsaid pad and applying fluid pressure therethrough to the displacedfractured bone.

3. In an immobilization bandage for bone fractures, the combination ofan inflatable pad substantially rectangular in shape placed to one sideonly of the fractured member and adjacent to the displaced fracturedbone, an immobile dressing completely enclosing said pad, a. tubularextension formed integral with said pad and extending outwardly throughsaid dressing whereby fluid under pressure

